Improvement in machines for pressing tobacco



J. BLACKIE.

Machine -for Pressng Tobacco.

No. 57.280. Patented Aug- 21, 1866.

' of the apparatus detached.

' 2, and has its bearings in slots in the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE. v

JOHN BLACKIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING TOBACGO.

Spceitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,280. dated August21, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN BLAoKIE, of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovenients in Machines for Manufacturing Plug-Tobacco; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specilication, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the invention,I will proceed to describe it.

Figure 1 is a top-plan view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical sectiontaken on the line :z: x of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a perspective view of apartMy invention consists. in a novel construction of a machine for pressingand forming tobacco-leaves into continuous strips or plugs, and thencutting it into lplugs of the required length, all at one Operation.

A represents the frame -of the machine, which may be constructed of anysuitable size and material. Transversely of this frame is mounted onelarge roller, O, having grooves in its surface circumferentially of aWidth corresponding to the Width of the strip or plug to be formed.

D represents a pressing-roller, having flau ges or projections thereonso located as to fitinto the grooves in roller C. Another similar butsmaller roller, e', is located as shown in Fig.

ports h, by which means it is left free to rise and fall ascircumstances shall require.

Two plain rollers or cylinders, b and b', are located as shown clearlyin Fig. 2, and around them is stretched a belt, B, or endless apron,which serves to carry the tobacco forward to the pressing-rollers G andD. This apron B has attached to its surface a series of blocks, ct,these blocks being secured in continuous rows, and the rows being ofsuch distance apart as to form channels between them corresponding inWidth to the widthofthe grooves in the wheels O, the channels in thebelt or apron B being in direct line with the grooves in the wheel O. Abelt, m, of proper Width to fit in the channels of the belt B, is thenplaced over and around the latter, and extended around the roller c,resting on the flanges of the latter. There will, of course, be as manyof these belts mt as there are channels or grooves in the apron B andwheel O. It will, of course, be understood that any number of thesechannels and grooves may be used by making the machine of the properwidth, and that by making` the channels and grooves of varying widths aseries of strips or plugs of different widths may be-formed at oneoperation.

To place the tobacco properly and regularly in the channels of the apronB, so as to form a strip or plug of uniform thickness, l use a series offrames, H, as shown in Fig. 3. This frame is made of a convenient sizeto handle, and is provided with a series of openings, o, arrangedtocorrespond in width and location with the channels of the apron B, asshown in Fig. 1. This frame H is provided with asliding bottom, I, asshown in Fig. 3, so that when the cells or openings o have been properlyfilled with the prepared tobacco by hand, and the frame placed on theapron B, and the bottom I drawn out by the attendant, the tobacco in thecells o will fall down into the channels of the apron B, and thus befed-forward to the pressing-rollers.

In order to keep the machine supplied with tobacco, the apron B will bemade of considerable length and a number of the frames H will be used,some being filled while others are being einptied, care being taken toso place the frames as to form a continuous supply of tobacco upon theapron B.

To insure the ready placing of the frame H in proper position on theapron B, it is provided with the projections u on its lower side, whichserve as guides in placing it on the apron.

From the opposite side of the roller G a platform, L, extends, havingcleats or raised projections e thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, thus forminga series of channels or grooves corresponding with those on the apron Band with the grooves ou the roller O, to guide the strips of tobaccofrom the roller G forward to the cutting apparatus.

At the end of the machine is located a roller, F, having its uppersurface flush with the upper surface of the platform L, as shown in Fig.2. Above this roller is mounted another roller, E, having a series ofspiral knives, n, projecting radially from its periphery.

lt will be observed that these rollers E and F are mounted diagonally inthe frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and as the knives are wound spil allyaround the roller E it follows that the bknife will cut in but a portionof the channels the same time, a portion of the knives will be made toeXtend only part way across the cylinder, as shown at n' of Fig. 1; andas there may be any numberI of the knives thus arranged, it is obviousthat plugs may be thus cut of different lengths at the same time.

In order to Vary the Operation and change the length of the plugs atWill, the knives should be so attached to the cylinder that they can beremoved or added at pleasure.

It will, of course, be understood that the various parts of the machinewill be so geared as to cause the parts to move in the requireddirection and with corresponding velocities.

The cylinders E and F should be gearedtogether, as shown in Fig. 2, andmotion may be imparted to them direct from the'cylinder O, as shown inFig. 1, a pulley, O, on the oppo- .site end of O serving to conveymotion through the belt R and pulley P to the apron B and the belts m.

The Operation is as follows: The frames H, being filled With theprepared tobaceo, are placed on the apron B, and the bottom I beingWithdrawn permits the tobaceo in the several cells o to fall into thechannels of the belt or apron B, the tobaceo resting. on the belts minthe bottom of said channels. Motion being imparted to the machine, thetobaccois carried forward to the cylinder O, and passes up between itand the roller e', which latter, by its weight, presses the tobaceo intothe grooves of eylinder O and helps to feed it forward. It then passesunder the pressing-roller D, by which it is thoroughly compressed, saidroller D being provided with screws and springs to regulate the pressureas desired, and as is usual in tlis class of machines.

The strip of tobaceo represented by T in Fig. 2 is carried or pushedforward after being pressed across the platform L, and enters betweenthe rollers E and F, where it is cut by the knives n into pl ugs of therequired length, as already explained.

It will thus be seen by the use of a machine constructed on this plan alarge number of strips can be pressed at once, and that strips ofdifferent widths may be formed at the same time and the same out intoplugs of various lengths, all at one Operation.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. The apron B,having aseries of channels of varying or uniform widths for receivin gand oonveying the tobaceo to the pressing-rollers, substantially as setforth.

2. In combination with the apron B, constructed as described, the beltsm, when said parts are arranged to operateb as and for the purpose setfort-h.

- 3. The combination of the grooved cylinder O, adjustable roller e',and pressing-roller D, substantially as shown and described.

4. A cutting apparatus Constructed and Operating substantially as setforth.

5. The frame H, provided with the cells o and sliding bottom I,-arranged and Operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- JOHN BLAOKIE.

Witnesses: f

ALEXR. HARTHILL, W. J. D. HEWITT.

